WO2001013752A1

WO2001013752A1 - Toe shoes for ballet

Info

Publication number: WO2001013752A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000943
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young Kyu Cho
Original assignee: Young Kyu Cho
Priority date: 1999-08-23
Filing date: 2000-08-22
Publication date: 2001-03-01
Also published as: AU6736700A; KR20010018860A

Abstract

The present invention relates to toe shoes for ballet. More specifically, toe shoes that have an improved vamp and sole for covering the feet of ballerinas requiring to walk on point. Ballet toe shoes having a vamp (1), including a fabric intermediate skin (3) made of coarse asbestos or linen, that has been reinforced by coating a hardener including glue, and an outer skin (5) covering the intermediate skin (3). The feel upon wearing and endurance is greatly improved by covering the vamp (1) with fabrics, in which a leather inner skin (10) is added on an inner surface of the intermediate skin (3) and the outer skin (5) covering thereon, and a cushion (20) is inserted inside the leather inner skin (10). In addition, since the nose of a conventional toe shoe is made of fabrics thereby breaking up easily in tiptoe motion, to prevent this a leather reinforcement skin (30) is added to the nose, so that life of the outer skin is extended. Further, in an intermediate sole (52) made of leather, wood, and compressed pulp paper and the like, a folding of a shoe bottom is prevented and the natural arch effect is maximized by applying entirely Hu-Ku fibre-glass mats which have similar shape to the intermediate sole (52).

Description

TOE SHOES FOR BALLET

Technical Field The present invention relates to toe shoes for ballet, more specifically to a toe shoe that has an improved vamp and sole covering the foot of a ballerina.

Background Art

Toe shoes for ballet (here after referred to as "toe shoes") have vamps that are hard and inflexible for tiptoe motion. In these types of shoes, ballerinas must stand, walk and turn on the end portion of their toes. For this, a hardener including glue is applied to the inner fabric of the shoe vamp, which hardened together with the outer skin of the toe shoes.

However, such conventional toe shoes cause blistering to the feet, and stimulate dislocation or deformation of bones in both the toe and foot. This is due to the hardened inner surface of the vamp staying in direct contact with the front portion of the feet, toes and topside thereof - while walking on point.

Furthermore, there always exists the possibility of permanent injury to the shinbone, because the shock occurred from this motion is directly transmitted to the joints of the feet.

Additionally - in the initial use of toe shoes, ballerinas have resorted to striking the shoe vamp with a hammer or slamming the shoe on the floor to alleviate its hardness. In due course, the shoe and its fabric coated with hardeners and glue is damaged and ultimately the durability of the vamp is reduced. As a means to solve the afore-mentioned problem, as shown in FIG.5, a cushion is provided C and attached to the inner surface of the toe shoe nose, so as to relieve the shock transmitted to the end portion of the toes.

Although the toe shoe cushion C, may relieve shock administered to the end portion of the toes, the cushion C is exposed to the inner skin of the toe shoe. So, the toes interfere with the cushion, as the ballerina wears the toe shoe. Before long, the cushion is damaged and separates from the toe shoe due to its direct contact with the toes. Additionally, the nose of the conventional toe shoe is covered by fabric and is frequently damaged by the tiptoe motion. Thus, the life of the toe shoe is reduced.

In the conventional toe shoe, as seen in FIG 6 & 7, the sole consists of 2 or 3 layers of wood, pulp, or leather.

However, toe shoes made via this manner and material, are unable to perform functions, such as walking on 'demi-point' (the sole does not bend for half point), and the arch of the foot is not expressed well.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been designed to resolve the aforementioned problems.

The task assigned to the present invention, is to provide comfortable, yet durable toe shoes for ballerinas at the same time protecting the feet by attaching leather and a cushion on an inner surface of the toe shoes vamp.

Further adding to the task of the present invention, is to extend the life of the toe shoe and stabilize the nose of the toe shoe for 'piroettes' - the spinning motion by attaching leather to that area. The leather improves the feel on wearing by absorbing sweat from the feet.

Still yet another object of the present invention, is to provide toe shoes that absorb shock incurred through ballet motion, so as not to harm the ballerina's joints.

For the accomplishment of the above tasks, the present invention for ballet toe shoes provides that it has: a vamp including an intermediate skin made of asbestos fiber or linen which is reinforced by coating a hardener including glue, and an outer skin covering the intermediate skin and a sole forming the bottom of the toe shoes.

This is characterized in that on the inner surface of the vamp consisting of the outer and intermediate skin, an inner skin is attached, and the entire vamp including the inner skin is covered with fabrics. According to the present invention of toe shoes, it is preferable that a cushion is located inside of the inner skin, and a leather reinforcement skin is attached to the nose of the vamp.

Another aspect of the present invention provides the ballet toe shoes as having: a vamp including an intermediate skin made of asbestos fiber or linen which is reinforced by coating a hardener including glue, and an outer skin covering the intermediate skin; and a sole forms the bottom of the toe shoes, being characterized that a cushion is located inside the vamp including the outer and intermediate skin and the vamp including the cushion, is covered with fabric.

Brief Description of Drawings

The features and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail, in the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings herein: FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view illustrating the toe shoe vamp, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the vamp according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the upper toe shoe area, according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the lower toe shoe area, according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a toe shoe, according to the prior art;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of another toe shoe, according to the prior art;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of still another toe shoe, according to the prior art.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In explaining the present invention, the same names and reference numerals will be given to the same components, and explanations in the same will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view representing a vamp, according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an outer skin 5 including an intermediate skin 3 made of asbestos fiber or linen and the like, are dried to be hardened and are coupled by using a hardener including glue similar to that of the conventional toe shoes, in order to maintain the entire shape of the vamp 5. On the inner surface of the outer skin 5 and intermediate skin 3 coupled each other, attached is an inner skin 10 - material having good touch and endurance, such as leather. Although it is preferable that the inner skin 10 has a shape covering the entire vamp 1, the inner skin 5, if necessary, could have a shape covering part of the inner surface of the intermediate skin 3. On the inner end, a cushion 20 made of an elastic material, is attached.

The inner surface of toe shoes including the vamp 3, which consists of the outer skin 5, the intermediate skin 3, the inner skin 10, and the cushion 20, is covered with various fabrics such as a cotton flannel, and the outer surface thereof is covered with the fabric such as Satin.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the vamp 1 in the toe shoes.

As shown in FIG. 2, a reinforcement skin 30 is attached on the nose 7 of the vamp 1. It is preferable that the reinforcement skin 30, is coupled strongly on the nose of the vamp 2.

By adhering and sewing, material dislocation and separation by severe spins and tiptoe motions can be avoided.

It is more preferable - with regards to endurance, that part of the reinforcement skin 30 extends to the bottom of the vamp 1, and the end portion thereof is covered with a sole 50.

An intermediate sole 52, forms the bottom of the vamp 1 and the entire toe shoe, and is made of wood, leather, and compressed pulp. A fiber-glass mat is applied to the intermediate sole 52. On the upper surface of the intermediate skin, an inner skin 40 of leather is attached.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the toe shoes, according to the present invention. As mentioned above, the nose of the toe shoe is covered with the leather reinforcement skin 30. On the intermediate sole 52 contacting with the bottoms of the feet, an inner sole 40 made of leather is attached. The leather inner sole 40 gives a good feel on wearing, absorbs sweat from the feet and reduces shock incurred in ballet motion.

Although a number of embodiments have been described in the above specification, it should be apparent that the present invention could be embodied in many other specific modes included within the sprit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present embodiments should be considered as illustrative, and the present invention could be modified within the scope of claims and the equivalent thereof.

Industrial Applicability

Accordingly, the present toe shoes invention, due to the inner skin and inner sole made of leather, provides an improvement to the feeling upon wearing the toe shoe, the fatigue of feet is prevented, and endurance to the shoe and dancer is increased.

Additionally, because this new invention does embraces the use of leather for the shoe's inner skin and inner sole, the shoe adapts quickly and easily to the dancer's foot - as does the dancer to the shoe. The leather inner skin prevents the ballerina's feet from directly contacting the hardened vamp, and therefore provides a smoother feel upon the wear of toe shoes. Since the leather inner allows the strength of the vamp to be maintained constantly and continuously, these toe shoes naturally adapt to the feet without having to strike the vamp with a hammer. Hence, the vamp durability is further increased.

With this in mind, 'Demi point' shoes could be made more easily by using leather, which maintains the shape of the vamp without the hardener. In addition, as the cushion is located inside the inner skin and does not expose therefrom, toe-interference with the cushion and separation of the cushion thereby does not occur. The toes are therefore protected, relieving the shock transmitted to the toe by a dancer walking on point.

Thus, by attaching the reinforcement skin on the nose of the toe shoe, 'nose ' damage is kept to a minimum, and the conditions for 'piroettes' - the spin motion is further stabilized due to the given appropriate friction.

A Hu-Ku fiber-glass mat included in the intermediate sole maintains the arch shape of the feet, prevents the bottom of the sole from being too bent by using the elasticity itself, and allows the arch of the feet to be expressed more naturally.

In summary, the present invention accomplishes the said technical improvements, maintaining the sufficiently necessary rigidity and strength through the application of leather to the hardened vamp of the toe shoes. Therefore avoiding pain to the ballerina. Furthermore, by locating the cushion inside the inner skin, the shock of walking on point is absorbed without inconvenience, allowing the joints of the ballerina to be protected. In addition, by attaching the reinforcement skin on the nose of the toe shoe, a smooth 'piroette' spin is ensured, and the life of the outer skin is increased. By applying a Hu-Ku fibre-glass mat to the intermediate sole, the bottom of the sole is prevented from unnecessary bending, while still allowing the arch of the foot to be expressed quite naturally.

Claims

1. Toe shoes for ballet having: a vamp including an intermediate skin made of asbestos fiber or linen which reinforced by coating a hardener including glue, and an outer skin covering the intermediate skin; and a sole forming a bottom of the toe shoes, being characterized in that on the inner surface of the vamp consisting of the outer and intermediate skin, an inner skin is attached, and the entire vamp including the inner skin is covered with fabrics.

2. Toe shoes according to the claim 1, being characterized by locating a cushion inside of the inner skin.

3. Toe shoes according to the claim 1, being characterized by attaching a leather reinforcement skin on nose of the vamp.

4. Toe shoes for ballet having: a vamp including an intermediate skin made of asbestos fiber or linen which reinforced by coating a hardener including glue, and an outer skin covering the intermediate skin; and a sole forming a bottom of the toe shoes, being characterized in that a cushion is located inside the vamp including the outer and intermediate skin, and the vamp including the cushion is covered with fabric.